On This Date, December 22nd

1. 1808: Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony is heard by the public for the first time

It was on this date in 1808 the most famous and recognizable piece of classical music ever made was played for the first time at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna. Of course, we’re talking about Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony with its very powerful four-note opening motif that’s been used in virtually every form of media known to mankind since. However, as amazing as it’s now become, according to reports it got off to an extremely rocky start. Apparently, the orchestra was so terrible that Beethoven actually had to stop them in the middle of the of a passage and had them start over, and that’s with him acting as the composer, conductor, and most importantly the pianist. There were quite a few other pieces played at the concert that was scheduled to be four hours long and unfortunately Beethoven’s masterpiece wasn’t played until two hours in. So needless to say it didn’t go over very well but it definitely picked up speed from there on eventually working its way into becoming what it is today.

2. 1956: Colo the gorilla became the first born in captivity

It was on this date in 1956 a four-pound baby gorilla was born at the Columbus Zoo to her parents Mac and Millie also at the zoo. This was the first time a gorilla had been born in captivity allowing people to see one in its infancy stage. Previously it required extreme measures to acquire a baby gorilla that sometimes ended with the deaths of other animals. Interestingly, the only natural enemy of the gorilla is human beings that have hunted them since the beginning of time for whatever reason. The decided to name the baby Colo as a combination of Columbus, Ohio. Since Colo’s birth, there have been many more baby gorillas born in captivity, 30 in the Columbus Zoo alone.

3. 1978: John Wayne Gacy confesses his heinous crimes to law enforcement

John Wayne Gacy is infamously known for a killing spree that ended with more than 33 victims once all was said and done. It was on this date in 1978 that Gacy finally confessed to law enforcement officials regarding his many heinous crimes committed between 1972 and 1978. Considered to be one of the worst serial killers in modern United States history, Gacy was born in Chicago Illinois and that that’s where he lived when he was eventually arrested. We want to spare you the gory details of the horrendous story but it should be known that upon a thorough search of Gacy’s home police found remains of many of his victims. Gacy was sentenced to the death penalty where he served 14 years n death row at the Stateville Penitentiary in Joliet Illinois on May 10, 1994.